THE ARCANE ARCHIVE

Icchantikas

To: soc.religion.eastern
From: W.F. Wong.
Subj: Icchantikas (0000.iccntks.wfw)
Date: unknown
There was a VERY hot debate about it regarding the issue of a group of
beings known as the icchantikas. In an early version of the Mahayana
Mahaparinirvana Sutra, it was said that "all beings shall attain
enlightenment EXCEPT the icchantikas". The icchantikas are supposed
to be the "damned" ones - too evil for anything to be done about them.
But a later version of the very same sutra changed that very important
word to "EVEN the icchantikas". This caused a very heated debate between
the Fa Hsan school of Chinese Buddhism and the ekayana schools - such
as Tien Tai and Hwa Yen. The debate was carried over the Japan Sea to
reach Japan. I think the issue itself is still unsettled. The apparent
settlement in favour of "enlightenment for all" is due solely to the
popularity of the ekayana schools over the Fa Hsang - which for all
purpose is practically dead.
W.F. Wong.

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